VOLUNTEERS are opening a community cafe within an historic building attached to York's Bar Walls after receiving a lottery boost.

Tea and coffee are being served up every Saturday morning at the Red Tower in Foss Islands Road until September 12.

The tower is being transformed into a community space with a café for the whole community by the local group Your Red Tower, with support from The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)

A TCV spokeswoman said it had been given funding by People’s Health Trust, using money raised through The Health Lottery to launch its Local People Programme – an initiative which encouraged people to come together and take the lead in transforming their community.

"This funding will be shared between a number of local groups and Your Red Tower is the first organisation TCV has invested in," she said.

"The group has been given £452 which they are using to pay for the set up costs of the community café which the local community and visitors alike can enjoy.

"As part of the initiative and thanks to TCV’s funding, volunteers will be opening the doors of the Red Tower to visitors every Saturday morning from 11am to 1pm where tea and coffee will be available."

TCV Project Officer Stephen Collins said: “The once unused Red Tower in York is now a community space for everyone to enjoy, and TCV is really pleased to have aided this transformation thanks to funding from People’s Health Trust.

“It is very obvious that the Your Red Tower group had a lot of passion and enthusiasm for the venture and I am lucky to have been able to join the group on occasions as part of the TCV Local People programme – their work is really worthwhile and benefits the entire community.”

The Tower was built in 1490 and immediately became the subject of controversy when stonemasons objected to brick being used to build it.

Stonemasons opposed it being built by tilers and attempted to sabotage the work by stealing their tools.

The work was completed despite one tiler being murdered during the process, and it has been repaired a number of times in the centuries since its opening, after falling into disrepair.

It is currently a Grade 1 Listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.